Changes proposed
to fishing regulationsThe Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Fisheries Division has announced its proposed 2011 fishing regulation changes that will be presented to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (TWRC) at its October meeting.
The TWRA reviewed its initial proposals for 2011 at the August meeting of the TWRC. The following are TWRA’s proposed changes by region and statewide for 2011:
Statewide
•Sportfish slat basket: Must be checked at least every 72 hours.
Region 1
•Gibson County Lake and Brown’s Creek Lake: Change slot limit on largemouth bass to an 18-24 inch protected length range (slot limit). Only one bass in creel of five fish may be over 24 inches.
Region 2
•No changes.
Region 3
•Dale Hollow Reservoir: Remove special regulations on trout. New limits will be the same as statewide rules.
•Great Falls Reservoir: 15-inch minimum length limit on largemouth bass.
•Piney River: Delayed trout harvest regulation, no harvest, artificials only from Oct. 1 through Feb. 28. From March 1 through September 30, trout creel limit is seven.
•Hiwassee Tailwater: Remove the 14-inch length limit on brown trout and eliminate the Quality Trout Fishing Area from the entire trout zone (from the Appalachia Powerhouse downstream to the L&N railroad bridge at Reliance).
•Implement a delayed harvest regulation for Hiwassee (from Appalachia Powerhouse downstream to the L&N railroad bridge at Reliance-entire trout zone). No harvest, artificial lures only from Oct. 1 through Feb. 28. March 1 through Sept. 30, daily creel limit is seven trout (all species combined) only two may be brown trout.
•Big Creek: Remove existing special trout regulations.
Region 4
•South Holston Reservoir: To match Virginia regulations for the reciprocal agreement.
•No harvest of white bass.
•Change catfish creel limit to 20 per day, only one of which may be over 34 inches long.
•Reduce bluegill creel limit to 50 per day.
•Reduce the number of limb lines from 25 to 15.
•Melton Hill Reservoir: Muskellunge that are not intended to be harvested from Melton Hill Reservoir must be released immediately in a manner that promotes survival of the fish. Culling of muskellunge, whereby an angler removes a fish from his creel limit and replaces it with another more desirable fish is not allowed.
The TWRA is soliciting comments for its 2011 sport fishing proposals. This is an opportunity for the public to share ideas and concerns about fishing regulations with TWRA staff. Public comments will be considered by fisheries managers and may be presented as proposals for regulation changes. Comments may be submitted by mail to: Sport Fish Comments, TWRA, Fisheries Management Division, P.O. 40747, Nashville, TN 37204 or emailed to TWRA.Comment@tn.gov.
Please include “Sport Fish Comments” on the subject line of emailed submissions.
This comment period concerning sport fish regulations will be open until Friday, Oct. 15.

Hunter education classes
set for Campbell CountyTwo Tennessee Hunter Education classes have been scheduled for Campbell County this month.
Ken Cutsinger will lead a class beginning Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at Cove Lake State Park.
Brent Harrison will lead a class beginning Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Jellico Rescue Squad Building. Classes will be held Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
State law requires that anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1969 possess proof of satisfactory completion of an approved hunter education course before hunting in Tennessee.
In order to enroll in a hunter education class, a student must be at least 10 years old. Youngsters ages 6-9 may participate in Young Sportsman and WMA hunts without hunter education but must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years old.
Participants need to bring a pencil and their Social Security number to class.